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Information for climbers

Pre-Climb Medical Check Up

All aspiring Mount Kilimanjaro climbers should have a medical check prior to their climb. Specifically ask your doctor about high altitude climbing for your age, fitness level, and overall health.

Ask if any of your pre-existing medical conditions are likely to cause problems while you’re on the mountain, and if any of your medications might interfere with your acclimatization. Ask if it is possible to take Diamox with any of your current medications.

Training for Climb Kilimanjaro

While it is often said that Mount Kilimanjaro is an ‘easy’ mountain to climb, you should not underestimate just how physically demanding the climb can be.

While Mount Kilimanjaro offers better climbing conditions than many mountains around the world, this does not mean that the climb itself is not intensely demanding. It is important that you not only be physically and aerobically fit for your climb, but also mentally prepared for the strain as well. There is no ideal body shape or level of fitness for climbing Kilimanjaro. We’ve seen marathon runners succumb to altitude sickness while less physically fit individuals have made it all the way to the top.

Vaccinations

Before departing for your trip, it is advisable that you speak with your physician about getting vaccinated against the following: Typhoid, Hepatitis A & B, Meningitis, Rabies.

These are in addition to the vaccinations that all travelers should have up to date regardless of where they are traveling, such as: MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, chickenpox, polio, and a flu shot. It is also advisable that you speak with your physician about measures that you can take to minimize your chance of exposure to malaria and cholera.

Entering Tanzania and Visa`s

Entering Tanzania requires both a valid passport and a Tanzanian visa. It is advisable to always check ahead to ensure visa processes or charges have not changed. Who needs a visa? With the exception of Hong Kong, Jamaica, Barbados, Malaysia, and roughly a dozen African nations; everybody entering Tanzania is required to have a tourist visa. Passport To enter Tanzania, you’ll also need a passport with at least six months validity remaining. If you are planning to apply for a visa upon arrival, you will also need two free, adjacent pages remaining in your passport.

Travel Insurance

It is essential that people attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro have travel insurance that covers the climb. Shadows of Africa is not able to refund trip deposits and balances can only be partially refunded. Bearing this in mind, it only makes sense to ensure your travel insurance covers trip cancellation, delays, or unforeseen expenses. Most travel insurance covers trip cancellation, missed connections, delays, baggage loss or delay, hurricanes, terrorism, pre-existing medical conditons, unemployment, medical emergencies, and a number of other things. However, high altitude climbing is usually not covered as standard. You may need to request additional coverage for mountaineering or mountain climbing.

What to Pack for Kilimanjaro Climb

While Shadows of Africa provides all communal equipment such as tents and food, you’re responsible for preparing your personal belongings and equipment. Click here and you’ll find our recommended list of things to pack

Accommodation

While climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, you’ll spend your nights in our state of the art tents. We have chosen our tents to be warm, waterproof, and spacious enough that you don’t wake up feeling cramped and poorly rested. We also provide you with top of the line sleeping bags perfectly suited to the often chilly nights on the mountain. For those taking the Marangu route, we can also arrange overnight accommodation in the various huts that line the trail, although these are popular and tend to require a booking well in advance of a climb during peak season.

Food on the Climb

Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro can be tiring work, so it pays to do so well-hydrated and on a full stomach.

For the duration of your climb with Shadows of Africa, you’ll be accompanied by a personal chef who will ensure you have all of the nutrition you need to complete your adventure. We provide food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as a mid to late afternoon snack.

Shadows of Africa is capable of catering to any dietary requirement you might have. Please advise us in advance of your climb so that your cook can prepare accordingly.